In this 2025 NBA Mock Draft, the Boston Celtics snag two interesting prospects, and the Philadelphia 76ers make a blockbuster trade.
Boston Celtics, 2025 NBA Draft, 2025 NBA Mock Draft, Labaron Philon, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Ace Bailey, Philadelphia 76ers | Patrick Smith/GettyImages
As the 2025 NBA Draft rapidly approaches, everything past the first three picks seems like a free-for-all. Some teams, such as the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns, will be looking to retool and pick up intriguing pieces to help them win now. Others, like the Brooklyn Nets and Utah Jazz, will be trying to swing on upside to propel them into the future.
No matter the direction teams decide to go in, this year’s draft looks primed to produce a ton of talent. There are elite guys at the top of the lottery, and just like every year, there are bound to be some players who fall through the cracks.
Let’s take a look at who could go where.
**1\. Cooper Flagg - Dallas Mavericks**
---------------------------------------
Nico Harrison can’t mess up twice in one calendar year… right? Duke star Cooper Flagg is the most obvious selection of the draft. The Dallas Mavericks got the biggest layup in the world after dealing Luka Doncic in the most shocking trade in NBA history.
Flagg is poised to enter the league as an elite defender with the potential to turn into a great shot-creator and playmaker on the other side of the ball. He could very well be the face of the franchise in Dallas for the next decade.
**2\. Dylan Harper - San Antonio Spurs
**
-------------------------------------------
With Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox already in place, the San Antonio Spurs lucked out big-time in the draft lottery. Now, they'll get the chance to add one of the best guards in the draft in Dylan Harper.
Harper is projected to be an elite combo guard at the NBA level, and if his three-point shot continues to make strides, he could blossom into a true superstar. If they don't think his shot will improve, perhaps the Spurs could look to trade the pick (and maybe even in a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant).
**3\. TRADE: Ace Bailey - Utah Jazz
**
----------------------------------------
**Philadelphia 76ers receive:** Lauri Markkanen, No. 5 Pick in 2025 NBA Draft, Kenyon Martin Jr.
**Utah Jazz receive:** Paul George, No. 3 Pick in 2025 NBA Draft
[Marc Stein of The Stein Line](https://marcstein.substack.com/p/monday-best-all-the-latest-nba-free) recently reported that the Philadelphia 76ers are determined to add a dynamic young player in this year's draft, so they won't trade their pick outright. But the fact that there was clarification could mean that a trade isn't off the table. This accomplishes a couple of goals for the 76ers while also helping out the Utah Jazz.
"If there is a trade in Philadelphia's future involving the No. 3 pick in the draft, don't expect the 76ers to move down very far on the 2025 draft board," Stein wrote. "League sources maintain that the Sixers are determined to add a dynamic young talent to their core after the tremendous fortune they enjoyed in the May 12 draft lottery."
Philadelphia would get out of the George contract but have to take on the Lauri Markkanen deal, so it would depend on which one they like more. Markkanen's shooting numbers were down last year, but playing alongside Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Jared McCain could help them get back to normal.
Plus, since they would only be moving down two spots, they could still add an elite building block to their young core.
On the other hand, if the Jazz like Ace Bailey significantly more than Tre Johnson or VJ Edgecombe, which seems to be the draft consensus, hoing up to get him could be worth it. Bailey is projected to be one of the best offensive players in the class and could develop into a superstar-level talent. He could be the new face of the Jazz organization.
The deal very much depends on where each team's head is at, but it could make some sense for all parties involved.
**4\. VJ Edgecome - Charlotte Hornets
**
------------------------------------------
The top three picks seem to be universally assumed, but VJ Edgecombe could very well end up being just as great as any of them. He's one of the best athletes in the class, an elite defender, and seemingly a perfect fit for the Charlotte Hornets next to LaMelo Ball.
Edgecombe is a quality offensive player, but he needs to continue to improve in order to succeed at the highest level as a top option on a solid NBA team. However, his athleticism and raw driving ability at least give him a league-level tool on offense.
**5\. TRADE: Tre Johnson - Philadelphia 76ers
**
--------------------------------------------------
**Philadelphia 76ers receive:** Lauri Markkanen, No. 5 Pick in 2025 NBA Draft, Kenyon Martin Jr.
**Utah Jazz receive:** Paul George, No. 3 Pick in 2025 NBA Draft
Again, a huge part of this potential trade has to do with how much the Jazz like Bailey more than the other two guys who could be available in the top five. But if they are in love with him as a prospect, then this could be a worthwhile move.
Meanwhile, the 76ers would still get their hands on an amazing bucket-getter in Johnson, who has worked to solidify himself as a clear-cut top-five prospect in this class. Johnson is an elite offensive talent who could slide into the Sixers' lineup easily alongside Maxey, McCain, Markkanen, and Embiid in this hypothetical scenario.
**6\. Khaman Maluach - Washington Wizards
**
----------------------------------------------
Like the Jazz, the Washington Wizards were wishing on a top-three pick, but with that dream gone, a quick pivot is needed. This may not be the most conventional pick, considering the Wizards' need for most star power, but drafting Khaman Maluach would be a massive upside swing.
If the plan in Washington is to keep developing Alex Sarr as a power forward, a Sarr-Maluach frontcourt could be one of the most devastating defensive two-man units in the NBA. Maluach is obviously still a very raw talent, but if he can continue to improve his offensive game while leaning into his size and instincts defensively, Washington could have something special.
**7\. Kon Knueppel - New Orleans Pelicans
**
----------------------------------------------
The third team in a row to free-fall in the lottery, the New Orleans Pelicans are in a very weird spot. Do they continue to build around Zion Williamson? Is it time to pivot? Regardless, Kon Knueppel is a safe, solid pick at seven.
Knueppel is projected to be one of the best role players in this class, with some upside to turn into more than that. His shooting stroke is pure, and while the Pelicans already have Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones, grabbing Knueppel is a perfectly fine selection.
**8\. Jeremiah Fears - Brooklyn Nets
**
-----------------------------------------
This may be one of the most seamless fits in this year's draft, as the Brooklyn Nets, who are currently in a state of flux, would be getting Jeremiah Fears, who may be the second-best lead guard prospect in the player pool.
Fears enjoyed an impressive freshman year at Oklahoma, and his ability to get inside and create for others would be perfect for a Nets team in search of direction. He would get plenty of opportunities to develop and work out the kinks in his game in Brooklyn.
**9\. Kasparas Jakucionis - Toronto Raptors
**
------------------------------------------------
Trading for Brandon Ingram last season signals that the Toronto Raptors don't want to be resigned to the bottom of the East anymore. However, adding another guard to the mix in Kasparas Jakucionis could be great for their depth.
Immanuel Quickley will almost certainly lead the way for Toronto, but Jakucionis' skill set could be very useful off the bench. His shot needs to come around, but his shot creation and playmaking would give Toronto a much-needed ball-handling option next to their slew of wings and forwards.
**10\. Collin Murray-Boyles - Houston Rockets
**
--------------------------------------------------
The Houston Rockets took a major leap forward this season, so drafting a guy who can help them continue to win seems likely. Not only can Collin Murray-Boyles be that guy, but he seems to fit their needs and play style very well.
Murray-Boyle's shot is far from perfect, but the rest of his game makes up for that. His defensive presence will also fit in nicely with what Ime Udoka wants to do in Houston.
**11\. Noa Essengue - Portland Trail Blazers
**
-------------------------------------------------
One of the biggest draft risers in recent weeks, Noa Essengue has some serious upside, and it could be worth it for the Portland Trail Blazers to bank on that if he ends up falling this far. They took major strides this year, but they could still be looking to find some diamonds in the rough.
The latest French product, Essengue's freakish frame, impressive athleticism, and ability to handle the ball make up one of the most unique skill sets in the draft. His three-point shot is a real concern, but the upside is clearly there with the rest of the talent he possesses.
**12\. Derik Queen - Chicago Bulls
**
---------------------------------------
This is one of the tougher players to place in the draft, as Derik Queen has all the talent to be a top-five pick, but none of the sense. He's a center, but not truly big enough or good enough defensively, and his offensive talent is elite, but if he has to play the four, how would it translate? (Also, he's not a great shooter.)
Regardless, the Chicago Bulls should be in a position to take the best player available, and at this point in the draft, Queen might be a great choice for them. If they can find a way to unlock his full NBA potential, this could be the steal of the draft.
**13\. Asa Newell - Atlanta Hawks
**
--------------------------------------
As the Atlanta Hawks try to figure out exactly where they want to go, adding another center to the mix could be a smart play, and Asa Newell might be the most intriguing big man in their range. If they wanted to move on from Clint Capela and roll with Onyeka Okongwu and a rookie, Newell would be a nice fit.
Though he's not the best passer and is a bit foul-heavy, Newell's raw athletic ability and versatile defense make him a very interesting fit next to the likes of Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels, and especially as a back-line helper for Trae Young.
**14\. Carter Bryant - San Antonio Spurs
**
---------------------------------------------
What an incredible draft this would be for the Spurs if they ended up with Harper and saw Carter Bryant fall to them at 14. It's very possible, and if he's there, the fit may make too much sense for San Antonio to pass up on.
Bryant is one of the better 3-and-D prospects in this class, and as the Spurs build around Wembanyama, Fox, Harper, and Stephon Castle, that's exactly the type of player they will need. He may not be able to create much for himself, but on this team, he wouldn't have to.
**15\. Cedric Coward - Oklahoma City Thunder
**
-------------------------------------------------
The Oklahoma City Thunder may end up trading this pick in an attempt to improve even more, but if they keep it, adding versatile shooting talent would be a smart play. Cedric Coward, who has been surging up draft boards, makes a ton of sense.
A perfect blend of size, skill, and shooting touch, Coward may end up being one of the best all-around prospects in this class from a role-player perspective. And as the Thunder build out their roster, he could be a seamless fit.
**16\. Jase Richardson - Orlando Magic
**
-------------------------------------------
Few teams around the league need three-point shooting more than the Orlando Magic, and Jase Richardson would provide them with that. They just need him to pan out more than their other child of a former NBA player pick. (There's still time, Jett Howard!)
Even outside of his injury history, there are some size concerns with Richardson, but putting him in a backcourt that also includes Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (for now) would help with that. Orlando has a big enough lineup that they should feel okay taking a smaller guard, especially one who shoots it as well as Richardson.
**17\. Danny Wolf - Minnesota Timberwolves
**
-----------------------------------------------
Let's get weird. The Minnesota Timberwolves are going to be in a tough spot with having to re-sign Naz Reid, and there's a chance another team swoops in with a huge offer to steal him away. Enter Danny Wolf.
Wolf isn't the same level of shooter as Reid, but his ball-handling makes him one of the most unique prospects in this draft class. The Wolves could use a bit more offensive creation outside of Anthony Edwards, and Wolf may just be freakish enough to give them that.
**18\. Egor Demin - Washington Wizards
**
-------------------------------------------
This would be the Wizards' second huge upside swing of the draft, but if they hit on both, it would be a dream. Egor Demin is massive and has all the skills to be an elite playmaker in the NBA. Washington would just need to get him there.
Like many of the classic overseas-born playmakers, Demin's three-point shot isn't amazing, and he's not great at creating for himself, either. But those are bumps the Wizards can afford to deal with right now, especially considering the raw passing-with-size talent they'd be banking on.
**19\. Liam McNeeley - Brooklyn Nets
**
-----------------------------------------
After taking Fears earlier in the draft, the Nets go wing here with Liam McNeeley. Adding a guy who can get them buckets on the offensive end would be a great choice, considering Jorodi Fernandez's ability to get his teams locked in on defense regardless of personnel.
McNeeley had a relatively rough year at UConn, but heading into his freshman season, he was one of the top prospects in the country. The Nets can afford to bank on that raw talent, especially this late in the first round, because if McNeeley pans out, he could be a pillar of their offense next to Fears.
**20\. Nique Clifford - Miami Heat
**
---------------------------------------
This would be a dream selection for the Miami Heat, and there's a real chance that Nique Clifford doesn't fall this far in the draft. However, if he does, he would be a perfect fit for the brand of basketball the Heat like to play.
Clifford has been rapidly rising up draft boards in recent weeks as an elite 3-and-D prospect. Though he's a bit on the older side, his impressive defensive intensity and ever-improving three-point shot could make him a perfect fit next to Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.
**21\. Nolan Traore - Utah Jazz
**
------------------------------------
At this point in their rebuild, the Jazz should just be trying to bring in as much talent as possible, regardless of position. Drafting Nolan Traore would certainly accomplish that goal, as he has a ton of upside.
Traore was one of the top prospects in this year's class, but he hit the classic young guard wall of inefficient scoring and questionable decision-making while playing overseas. Still, he's been lights out shooting the ball as of late, and his raw playmaking talent shines through all his struggles. Although Utah may have found something in Isaiah Collier, taking a swing on Traore this late in the first round would be worth it.
**22\. Rasheer Fleming - Atlanta Hawks
**
-------------------------------------------
The Hawks found something this year (kind of) by putting a slew of defensive weapons around Trae Young, and snagging Rasheer Fleming in the draft would help them continue that trend. He'd be a perfect guy to slide into their forward/center room.
Fleming is a bit undersized to play the five, but his movements could allow him to do so anyway. His nard-nosed defense and impressive athleticism are paired with a solid three-point shot, though his form is a little wonky. Though he's a bit of an in-betweener, Fleming could gel nicely with the rest of Atlanta's defensive-oriented forwards and bigs next to Young.
**23\. Thomas Sorber - Indiana Pacers
**
------------------------------------------
It's been an impressive two seasons for the Indiana Pacers, but they've had some brutal luck at the backup center position. Thomas Bryant and Tony Bradley's minutes in the Eastern Conference finals are quite the sight in 2025, but Thomas Sorber could be an amazing solution.
An injury ended Sorber's season with the Hoyas very early, but his raw talent is painfully obvious. He's an electric defender with a knack for working out of the post. With his raw intensity and instincts on both ends, he could be a perfect fit in Indiana.
**24\. Maxime Raynaud - Oklahoma City Thunder
**
--------------------------------------------------
As the Thunder look to fill out an already-stacked roster, bringing in a big guy to support Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein at the five spot. Drafting Maxime Raynaud would help them do that.
Raynaud looked incredible at the NBA Draft Combine, utilizing his size and touch to dominate the competition. His shot is solid, and he has a knack for defense around the rim. If the Thunder can work around his relative lack of athleticism and explosiveness, they might have a steal on their hands.
**25\. Bogoljub Markovic - Orlando Magic
**
---------------------------------------------
In Orlando's desperate need to add shooting, finding a guy like Bogoljub Markovic could be a dream come true. Some mocks don't have Markovic going until the middle of the second round, but he has all the skills to be a first-round talent.
First and foremost, he's an elite three-point shooter and has all the well-rounded talent that often comes with playing overseas. Plus, Markovic has a bunch of upside as a versatile defender. The biggest question mark will be whether or not he can bulk up enough to play the five, but regardless, he's worth a swing for the Magic.
**26\. Noah Penda - Brooklyn Nets
**
--------------------------------------
The Nets should be taking as many upside swings as possible, and Noah Penda looks like the type of player who could turn into a high-quality role player very soon at the NBA level. His defense is very impressive, and he can pass the ball with the best of them.
Penda comes with some serious shooting concerns, but that's the type of thing the Nets can afford to work through in this stage of their rebuild. The rest of Penda's skill sets make him a worthwhile shot at this point in the draft.
**27\. Will Riley - Brooklyn Nets
**
--------------------------------------
Again, it's all about swings for the Nets. That's exactly what Will Riley is. He's shot up draft boards in recent weeks, and there's a very clear outline for how he could turn into a very good player at the NBA level.
Though Riley didn't shoot the ball well at Illinois, he's shown some very intriguing signs of improvement in that area. His defense is also a bit of a question mark. But add in his elite driving abilities and impressive passing, and he's another player the Nets should be willing to take a chance on.
**28\. Labaron Philon - Boston Celtics
**
-------------------------------------------
The Celtics need a center, but they also need to shore up depth at the guard position, should they decide to trade Jrue Holiday. At this point in the draft, snagging Labaron Philon (if he's still on the board) would be a phenomenal pick for Boston.
Philon is an explosive athlete who showed off a very impressive skill set on defense as a freshman at Alabama, and his intensity is exactly the type of thing that would make fans fall in love with him instantly. Highlighted by Derrick White-esque chase-down blocks, Philon's defense is the definition of Mazzulla ball.
His offense is where things get a bit shakier in that context, as he didn't shoot the ball well with the Crimson Tide. Philon's shooting form is very awkward, but he did shoot well from deep in high school. Plus, he shot 76.7% from the free-throw line, and his shot creation was extremely impressive.
The 6-foot-4 guard works well out of the pick-and-roll and gets to the rim with an impressive craftiness. Though he likely wouldn't get a ton of on-ball touches in Boston, he would be fully capable of taking on some shot-creation moments.
Philon is working with an extremely small frame, listed at just 177 lbs, but the rest of his abilities make up for that. Add in the fact that his height could make him an ideal candidate to be a multi-positional, multi-tool guard, and he would definitely be worth a selection at this point in the draft.
**29\. Walter Clayton Jr. - Phoenix Suns
**
---------------------------------------------
More than anything else, the Phoenix Suns need depth. And bringing a three-point specialist like Walter Clayton Jr. on board would certainly help them reach that goal, as he could step in and play right away in their rotation.
He's one of the best pure shooters in the class, able to fill it up from well beyond the three-point arc. Though there are some very clear defensive concerns, his offensive production would make this a very solid pick for Phoenix.
**30\. Joan Beringer - LA Clippers
**
---------------------------------------
One of the youngest players in the class, and also one of the most intriguing, Joan Beringer would be a great upside swing for the LA Clippers. As they explore an uncertain future, bringing in a tantalizing center prospect could be a perfect move.e
Beringer won't turn 19 until the middle of November, and he's already a high-level defender with some okay interior scoring capabilities. His offensive game is a major work in progress, and he's very skinny, but playing with a game-manager like James Harden could be a perfect way for him to learn to be effective on that side of the ball.
**FAST FORWARD: 32. Ryan Kalkbrenner - Boston Celtics
**
----------------------------------------------------------
For the sake of rounding out the draft for the Celtics, selecting Ryan Kalkbrenner with their first pick in the second round makes plenty of sense for a squad that will be in desperate need of big-man depth next season. (Also, with pick No. 31, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Koby Brea out of Kentucky.)
Kelkbrenner is a mountain of a man and has been one of the best defenders in college basketball for the past few years. Placing him [in a role similar to Luke Kornet's](https://hardwoodhoudini.com/boston-celtics-perfect-luke-kornet-replacement-ryan-kalkbrenner-2025-nba-draft-hiding-mock-creighton-al-horford) could work wonders for Boston. He's a solid passer and has shown flashes of shooting threes, too (though Boston may prefer him to keep his work to around the hoop).
There are some obvious downsides to Kalkbrenner's game, primarily his lack of quickness and overall speed, but that comes with the size. (But perhaps his former teammate, Baylor Scheierman, can vouch for him.)
That said, if Kalkbrenner can come in and simply play the role Boston asks of him, there's no reason he can't be a solid contributor in a second-string center role behind Kornet, Al Horford, or whoever takes on the starting job for the Celtics next year.